The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-05
Jaa5s6K'S nPRl(aIM7.
POSrRUMOUs LETTERS OF GID.
EON WELLES.
With Comments by George Baker,
johnson, Grant, Seward
and Sumner.

loWou tuo ftbpiutiOn OF tn6 house OF
Representatives, February "a, 1888, to
impeach Andrew Johnson, President
OF the United States, for "high crimes
and misdemesnors," are fraueht with
perpetual interest. The occasion was
unparalleled In America.
In justice, now, to the illuminated
President, 1t is deemed both timely
and right to disclose here two poethu.
nous letters irem Hon. Gideon Welles,
who was Minister Of Naval Affairs un.
der Lincoln and johnson, and q par.
tic'pan', therefore, In the scenes to
which they refer. The letters were
not written for publication. Ad.
dressed to Hon. Joseph s. Fowler, OF
Tennessee, one OF the seven Republi.
can Senators, who, on the
memorable 18th OF May,
1868, voted against impeach.
msnt, they were designed 10 portray
from the stand OF Cabinet officer the
spirit OF q great crisis and confident
tally 10 give important information 10
be publicly used by Mr.. Fowler In
correcting certain errors appertainipg
at oncs TO the motives Of the Presi-
dent, TO the true significance Of his
policy, to his veto OF the tenure OF
office law, to bis removal OF Edwin M.
Stanton from the Department OF War,
to his appointment OF Gen. Grant a.
StsDton's successor, with the purpose
OF testing In the Supreme Court an
unconstitutional statute to the nature
ard extent Of the agreement between
the President and Grant, and TO the
lsiter's betrayal Of plighied faith In
the famous controversy which en-
sued.
mo chief magistrate, no officer OF
the government whom ] have ever
known-snd / have been somewhat
familiar with most Of them from the
days Of John Quincy Adams--wa,
more attentive aud devoted to his du.
ties thsn President johnson. Though
possessed OF strong and rugged con-
stitutioD, : have never doubted that
his health was seriously and probably
permanently impaired by his assidu.
Gus and close application 10 the labors
OF his office. file had been prostrated
by long and severe illness In the
Water OF 1854 05, which rendered his
appearance at Washington at the in
sugural doubtful and precarious. But
IL was the earnest wish OF President
Lincoln, who did not conceal his grAt.
ification at Mr.. Johnson's election, that
the Vice President, a Southern patriot,
should represent on that occ ,sion. His
absence would be apprehended, have
IN unfortunate II fllence and constluc-
ton abroad. |, was in compliance
with this earnest and expressed wish
OF President Lincoln, seconded by his
swn disposition h eyals no responsi.
bility or labor, that he was present, In
enieebed health and strength, to enter
upon his duties rs the presiding officer
oil the Senate, on the 4th Of March. he
was a man OF fine presence and bore
himself with dignity in the Cabinet, In
his intercourse with officials and the
represents yes of foreign govern.
ments, and with all, indeed, with
whom he came In contact. Always
cell possessed and courteous, he never
failed 10 receive and command respect
even from his enemies.
"Gen. GIANT, who, in the early days
OF President Johnsen's aJministra.
ton had profeGsed himself 10 be. and
doubtless was, Ia full accord with hin;
In his measures, began 10 Indicate
alienation alter the elections in the
autumn Of 1865. though be continual
upon friendly and almost intimate re.
,a,,aus 10 the President, who, az .,
others tisuasied the pa..tral's sin.
cerity, still gave him bis confidence.
Gen. Grant did not hold Mr.. Stanton
in high esteem, and had willingly as
scented TO proposition, the year pre-
yious, TO tupert, do him in the War
Department. Bu', before the change
was contaminated, President johnson,
who would have been glad 10 be 70.
leved Of Mr.. Stanton, hteitated at the
critical moment 10 take a step which
would aggpvale the exciting III feel.
ing, and make more violent and win.
diciiye the master spirits Of opposition.
The proposi ion had been very quietly
discussed and Was known 10 but iew
but the disappointment OF Gen. Gran,
who did not originate though he con.
scented 10 the arrangement, contrib.
uted 10 the es,fang II doubt.
ltss gave edge b. his animosity, when,
nj q later day, he Jrieilel the promise
he had made TO remain firm al his post
o. Secretary OF War, 90 that the con.
stitutionality OF the tenure Of Office
Law should be decided by the Suprt ms
Court. The equiyocalion aud ultima'e
failure OF Gen. Grant 10 iul6l his
promise, and his abandonment Of the
trust and the Wa DEPARTMENT, de.
feated the purpose aud Efforts Of the
President TO obtain legal decision on
that enactment, Mr.. Johnson, alya,a
truthful and index bly, honest, never
forgot ard probably never for.
gave tie deception, and further
intimacy or personal interviews
with Gen. Grant ceased. .
mo more rigid constitutionalisl
than Andrew johnson was TO be
found lew have ever studied the or.
ganic law more closely. The Federal
Constitution hsd been his rudimental
elementary, hrt Lesson, his political
bible and tex book, carefully scanned
y and observed through his whole oflicia
liz; and II was revolving TO his mind
and nature that any OF its provision,
, should be violated. His radical op
ponents, never strictly mindful al con
elitutional restrAints, insisted that IN,
var had broken down constitutions
larTierp, that Congress was omnipo
INT, and legislative action was abfo
pte ard supreme Hence the auiago
lam that sprsng up between the ex
sutiye snd the legi, atiye depart
snis Of the Government. -
"Thtre u, II link, a prevailing erro
neous opinion In regard 10 the DIR
ences and causes OF differences b,
tween President johnson and SscF,
tary Stanton and Gen. Grant, 10 eac
OF whom be gave bic willing cont
denCe rntil convinced that zach WI
uniaihiul.
"Aa regards Stanton, you give Bit
credit which he does not deserve, an
his peIhdy and tTeaohery are not full
told. may say the same Of Gran
who vas false TO the friend wlo IA,
him his confidence, and ungrateiul Il
the rust aud ben, fils bestowed. .
"Thad Stevens, Butler, Boutwell,
AZ